Bacillary angiomatosis: a treatable cause of acute psychiatric symptoms in human immunodeficiency virus infection

Abstract

Background: Bacillary angiomatosis is a systemic infection that has been most commonly reported in the setting of immunosuppression, especially human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease.

Method: We report two patients who had bacillary angiomatosis who presented with psychiatric symptoms.

Results: The first patient presented with marked exacerbation of previous depressive disease. The second patient presented with new psychotic symptoms. In both cases psychiatric symptoms did not resolve until antibiotic treatment was given.

Conclusion: Our report expands the clinical spectrum of bacillary angiomatosis and identifies a new cause of treatable psychiatric disease in HIV-infected persons.